Abstract: The Majorana zero modes and persistent spin current in mesoscopic d-wave-superconducting loops with spin-orbit (SO) interaction are investigated by numerically solving the spin-generalized Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations self-consistently. For some appropriate strength of the SO coupling, Majorana zero-energy states and sharp jumps of the spin-polarized currents can be observed when the highest energy levels cross the Fermi energy in the spectrum, leading to spin currents with opposite chirality flowing near the inner and outer edges of the sample. When the threaded magnetic flux turns on, four flux-dependent patterns of the persistent spin current with step-like features show up, accompanied by Majorana edge modes at flux values where the energy gap closes. Moreover, the Majorana zero mode is highly influenced by the direction of the Zeeman field. A finite in-plane field can lead to the gap opening since the inversion symmetry is broken. Remarkably, multiple Majorana zero-energy states occur in the presence of an out-of-plane field h(z), and the number of steps in the spin current evolution can be effectively tuned by the field strength due to the shift of Majorana zero modes. Finally, when the loop sample contains surface indentation defects, zero-energy modes can always show up in the presence of an appropriate h(z). Interestingly, multiple Majorana states may be present in the system with a corner defect even if h(z) = 0.

Abstract: We investigated the deposition of MoS2 multilayers on large area substrates. The pre-deposition of metal or metal oxide with subsequent sulfurization is a promising technique to achieve layered films. We distinguish a different reaction behavior in metal oxide and metallic films and investigate the effect of the temperature, the H2S/H-2 gas mixture composition, and the role of the underlying substrate on the material quality. The results of the experiments suggest a MoS2 growth mechanism consisting of two subsequent process steps. At first, the reaction of the sulfur precursor with the metal or metal oxide occurs, requiring higher temperatures in the case of metallic film compared to metal oxide. At this stage, the basal planes assemble towards the diffusion direction of the reaction educts and products. After the sulfurization reaction, the material recrystallizes and the basal planes rearrange parallel to the substrate to minimize the surface energy. Therefore, substrates with low roughness show basal plane assembly parallel to the substrate. These results indicate that the substrate character has a significant impact on the assembly of low dimensional MoS2 films.

Abstract: The application of graphene to electronic and optoelectronic devices is limited by the absence of reliable semiconducting variants of this material. A promising candidate in this respect is graphene oxide, with a band gap on the order of similar to 5 eV, however, this has a finite density of states at the Fermi level. Here, we examine the electronic structure of three variants of half-fluorinated carbon on Sic(0001), i.e., the (6 root 3 x 6 root 3) R30 degrees C/SiC “buffer layer,” graphene on this (6 root 3 x 6 root 3) R30 degrees C/SiC buffer layer, and graphene decoupled from the SiC substrate by hydrogen intercalation. Using angle-resolved photoemission, core level photoemission, and x-ray absorption, we show that the electronic, chemical, and physical structure of all three variants is remarkably similar, exhibiting a large band gap and a vanishing density of states at the Fermi level. These results are explained in terms of first-principles calculations. This material thus appears very suitable for applications, even more so since it is prepared on a processing-friendly substrate. We also investigate two separate UV photon-induced modifications of the electronic structure that transform the insulating samples (6.2-eV band gap) into semiconducting (similar to 2.5-eV band gap) and metallic regions, respectively.

Abstract: Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7) (0 <= x <= 1) solid solutions with a whitlockite-type (or beta-Ca-3(PO4)(2)-type) structure (sp.gr. R3c) were prepared by a standard solid-state method in air. Their luminescent properties under near-ultraviolet (n-UV) light were investigated. Excitation spectra of Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7) showed the strongest absorption at about 395 nm, which matches well with commercially available n-UV-emitting GaN-based LED chips. Emission spectra indicated an intense red emission due to the D-5(0) -> F-7(2) transition of Eu3+, with a maximum in the intensity for Ca8.5Pb0.5Eu(PO4)(7). The emission intensity of Ca8.5Pb0.5Eu(PO4)(7) was about 1.8 times higher than that of a Ca9Eu(PO4)(7) phosphor. We suggest that the introduction of Pb2+ is an efficient approach to enhance luminescence properties of such phosphors. We clarified the influence of the Ca2+/Pb2+ substitution on intensities of three bands for the D-5(0) -> F-7(0) transition in excitation spectra of Ca9-xPbxEu(PO4)(7). In addition, we found a reversible first-order phase transition from R3c to R (3) over barc symmetry by second-harmonic generation in the range from 753 K (x = 1) to 846 K (x = 0). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Nanostructure engineering has been demonstrated to improve the electrochemical performance of iron oxide based electrodes in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the synthesis of advanced functional materials often requires multiple steps. Herein, we present a facile one-pot synthesis of carbon-coated nanostructured iron oxide on few-layer graphene through high-pressure pyrolysis of ferrocene in the presence of pristine graphene. The ferrocene precursor supplies both iron and carbon to form the carbon-coated iron oxide, while the graphene acts as a high-surface-area anchor to achieve small metal oxide nanoparticles. When evaluated as a negative-electrode material for LIBs, our composite showed improved electrochemical performance compared to commercial iron oxide nanopowders, especially at fast charge/discharge rates.

Abstract: Finding novel atomically thin heterostructures and understanding their characteristic properties are critical for developing better nanoscale optoelectronic devices. In this study, we investigate the electronic and optical properties of a GaS-Ca(OH)(2) heterostructure using first-principle calculations. The band gap of the GaS-Ca(OH)(2) heterostructure is significantly reduced when compared to those of the isolated constituent layers. Our calculations showthat the GaS-Ca(OH)(2) heterostructure is a type-II heterojunction which can be used to separate photoinduced charge carriers where electrons are localized in GaS and holes in the Ca(OH)(2) layer. This leads to spatially indirect excitons which are important for solar energy and optoelectronic applications due to their long lifetime. By solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation on top of a single shot GW calculation (G(0)W(0)), the dielectric function and optical oscillator strength of the constituent monolayers and the heterostructure are obtained. The oscillator strength of the optical transition for the GaS monolayer is an order of magnitude larger than the Ca(OH)(2) monolayer. We also found that the calculated optical spectra of different stacking types of the heterostructure show dissimilarities, although their electronic structures are rather similar. This prediction can be used to determine the stacking type of ultrathin heterostructures.

Abstract: We report on the electrical, optical and physical properties of Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells using an absorber layer fabricated by selenization of sputtered Cu, Zn and Cu10Sn90 multilayers. A maximum active-area conversion efficiency of 10.4% under AM1.5G was measured with a maximum short circuit current density of 39.7 mA/cm(2), an open circuit voltage of 394 mV and a fill factor of 66.4%. We perform electrical and optical characterization using photoluminescence spectroscopy, external quantum efficiency, current-voltage and admittance versus temperature measurements in order to derive information about possible causes for the low open circuit voltage values observed. The main defects derived from these measurements are strong potential fluctuations in the absorber layer as well as a potential barrier of the order of 133 meV at the back side contact. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Abstract: Anderson's theorem states that non-magnetic impurities do not change the bulk properties of conventional superconductors. However, as the dimensionality is reduced, the effect of impurities becomes more significant. Here we investigate superconducting nanowires with diameter comparable to the Fermi wavelength $\lambda_F$ (which is less than the superconducting coherence length) by using a microscopic description based on the Bogoliubov-de Gennes method. We find that: 1) impurities strongly affect the superconducting properties, 2) the effect is impurity position dependent, and 3) it exhibits opposite behavior for resonant and off-resonant wire widths. We show that this is due to the interplay between the shape resonances of the order parameter and the subband energy spectrum induced by the lateral quantum confinement. These effects can be used to manipulate the Josephson current, filter electrons by subband and investigate the symmetries of the superconducting subband gaps.

Abstract: We study transport properties of a MoS2 monolayer in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field B. We derive and discuss its band structure and take into account spin and valley Zeeman effects. Compared to a conventional two-dimensional electron gas, these effects lead to new quantum Hall plateaus and new peaks in the longitudinal resistivity as functions of the magnetic field. The field B leads to a significant enhancement of the spin splitting in the conduction band, to a beating of the Shubnikov-de Haas (SdH) oscillations in the low-field regime, and to their splitting in the high-field regime. The Zeeman fields suppress significantly the beating of the SdH oscillations in the low-field regime and strongly enhance their splitting at high fields. The spin and valley polarizations show a similar beating pattern at low fields and are clearly separated at high fields in which they attain a value higher than 90%.

Abstract: Large-eddy simulations (LESS) are frequently used to model the planetary boundary layer, and the choice of the grid cell size, numerical schemes and sub grid model can significantly influence the simulation results. In the present paper the impact of grid spacing on LES of an idealized atmospheric convective boundary layer (CBL), for which the statistics and flow structures are well understood, is assessed for two mesoscale models: the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) and the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF). Nine simulations are performed on a fixed computational domain (6 x 6 x 2 km), combining three different horizontal (120, 60, 30 m) and vertical (20, 10, 5 m) spacings. The impact of the cell size on the CBL is investigated by comparing turbulence statistics and velocity spectra. The results demonstrate that both WRF and RAMS can perform LES of the CBL under consideration without requiring extremely high computational loads, but they also indicate the importance of adopting a computational grid that is adequate for the numerical schemes and subgrid models used. In both RAMS and WRF a horizontal cell size of 30 m is required to obtain a suitable turbulence reproduction throughout the CBL height. Considering the vertical grid spacing, WRF produced similar results for all the three tested values, while in RAMS it should be ensured that the aspect ratio of the cells does not exceed a value of 3. The two models were found to behave differently in function of the grid resolution, and they have different shortcomings in their prediction of CBL turbulence. WRF exhibits enhanced damping at the smallest scales, while RAMS is prone to the appearance of spurious fluctuations in the flow when the grid aspect ratio is too high. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: The dynamics of driven pancake vortices in layered superconductors is studied using molecular-dynamics simulations. We found that, with increasing driving force, for strong interlayer coupling, the preexisted vortex lines either directly depin or first transform to two-dimensional (2D) pinned states before they are depinned, depending on the pinning strength. In a narrow region of pinning strengths, we found an interesting repinning process, which results in a negative differential resistance. For weak interlayer coupling, individually pinned pancake vortices first form disordered 2D flow and then transform to ordered three-dimensional (3D) flow with increasing driving force. However, for extremely strong pinning, the random pinning-induced thermal-like Langevin forces melt 3D vortex lines, which results in a persistent 2D flow in the fast-sliding regime. In the intermediate regime, the peak effect is found: With increasing driving force, the moving pancake vortices first crystallize to moving 3D vortex lines, and then these 3D vortex lines are melted, leading to the appearance of a reentrant 2D flow state. Our results are summarized in a dynamical phase diagram.

Abstract: The effect of the number of stacking layers and the type of stacking on the electronic and optical properties of bilayer and trilayer black phosphorus are investigated by using first-principles calculations within the framework of density functional theory. We find that inclusion of many-body effects (i.e., electron-electron and electron-hole interactions) modifies strongly both the electronic and optical properties of black phosphorus. While trilayer black phosphorus with a particular stacking type is found to be a metal by using semilocal functionals, it is predicted to have an electronic band gap of 0.82 eV when many-body effects are taken into account within the G(0)W(0) scheme. Though different stacking types result in similar energetics, the size of the band gap and the optical response of bilayer and trilayer phosphorene are very sensitive to the number of layers and the stacking type. Regardless of the number of layers and the type of stacking, bilayer and trilayer black phosphorus are direct band gap semiconductors whose band gaps vary within a range of 0.3 eV. Stacking arrangements that are different from the ground state structure in both bilayer and trilayer black phosphorus exhibit significant modified valence bands along the zigzag direction and result in larger hole effective masses. The optical gap of bilayer (trilayer) black phosphorus varies by 0.4 (0.6) eV when changing the stacking type. The calculated binding energy of the bound exciton hardly changes with the type of stacking and is found to be 0.44 (0.30) eV for bilayer (trilayer) phosphorous.

Abstract: We investigate silicene superlattices in the presence of a tunable barrier potential U, an exchange field M, and a perpendicular electric field E-z. The resulting miniband structure depends on the spin and valley indices and on the fields M and E-z. These fields determine the minigaps and also affect the additional Dirac points brought about by the periodic potential U. In addition, we consider diffusive transport and assess its dependence on the spin and valley indices as well as on temperature. The corresponding spin and valley polarizations strongly depend on the potential U and can be made almost 100% at very low temperatures at particular values of the Fermi energy.

Abstract: Organic solar cells based on two benzodithiophene-based polymers (PTB7 and PTB7-Th) processed at square centimeter-size under inert atmosphere and ambient air, respectively, are investigated. It is demonstrated that the performance of solar cells processed under inert atmosphere is not limited by the upscaling of photoactive layer and the interfacial layers. Thorough morphological and electrical characterizations of optimized layers and corresponding devices reveal that performance losses due to area enlargement are only caused by the sheet resistance of the transparent electrode reducing the effi ciency from 9.3% of 7.8% for PTB7-Th in the condition that both photoactive layer and the interfacial layers are of high layer quality. Air processing of photoactive layer and the interfacial layers into centimeter-sized solar cells lead to additional, but only slight, losses (< 10%) in all photovoltaic parameters, which can be addressed to changes in the electronic properties of both active layer and ZnO layers rather than changes in layer morphology. The demonstrated compatibility of polymer solar cells using solution-processed photoactive layer and interfacial layers with large area indicates that the introduction of a standard active area of 1 cm(2) for measuring effi ciency of organic record solar cells is feasible. However electric standards for indium tin oxides (ITO) or alternative transparent electrodes need to be developed so that performance of new photovoltaic materials can be compared at square centimeter-size.

Abstract: Diamond is a promising material for a number of bio-applications, including the fabrication of platforms for attachment and investigation of neurons and of neuroprostheses, such as retinal implants. In the current work ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films were deposited by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition, modified by UV/O-3 treatment or NH3 plasma, and comprehensively characterized with respect to their bulk and surface properties, such as crystallinity, topography, composition and chemical bonding nature. The interactions of insect circadian pacemaker neurons with UNCD surfaces with H-, O- and NH2-terminations were investigated with respect to cell density and viability. The fast and strong attachment achieved without application of adhesion proteins allowed for advantageous modification of dispersion protocols for the preparation of primary cell cultures. Centrifugation steps, which are employed for pelletizing dispersed cells to separate them from dispersing enzymes, easily damage neurons. Now centrifugation can be avoided since dispersed neurons quickly and strongly attach to the UNCD surfaces. Enzyme solutions can be easily washed off without losing many of the dispersed cells. No adverse effects on the cell viability and physiological responses were observed as revealed by calcium imaging. Furthermore, the enhanced attachment of the neurons, especially on the modified UNCD surfaces, was especially advantageous for the immunocytochemical procedures with the cell cultures. The cell losses during washing steps were significantly reduced by one order of magnitude in comparison to controls. In addition, the integration of a titanium grid structure under the UNCD films allowed for individual assignment of physiologically characterized neurons to immunocytochemically stained cells. Thus, employing UNCD surfaces free of foreign proteins improves cell culture protocols and immunocytochemistry with cultured cells. The fast and strong attachment of neurons was attributed to a favorable combination of topography, surface chemistry and wettability. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.